8 Day Azores Spring Photo Workshop

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International Photo Workshop

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Description

Summary

Tour starts

Azores, Portugal

Minimum age:

None

Description

Discover the wonders of the Azores Islands as you connect with nature on this 8-day spring photography workshop!

This Portuguese archipelago of islands in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean is dominated by volcanic activity, where jagged mountain peaks are interspersed by luscious green forests that hide a myriad of stunning waterfalls, extraordinary crater lakes and more. During this workshop, you'll travel across the islands of São Miguel, Flores and Terceira, in search of the most photogenic locations as you immerse yourself in breathtaking natural landscapes.

Your accommodation and transportation during the tour will all be taken care of before your arrival, so all you'll need to do is to concentrate on improving your photography. Throughout the tour, your expert photo guides will be on hand, sharing their knowledge with you both in-field and out to ensure that you'll have a well-rounded learning experience.

This photo workshop is suitable for photographers of all skill levels, whether you are a professional or someone who is just picking up a camera for the first time. As long as you have a sense for adventure and exploring new places, then this is the perfect travel photography tour for you!

Do not miss out on the opportunity to capture the best of the Azores. Check availability by choosing a date.

Included

2 Professional photo guides

Transportation in a comfortable vehicle

7 nights hotel accommodation in hotels and guesthouses. Rooms with private bathrooms.

All breakfasts

Local flight tickets to transfer between islands

Post-processing and editing sessions

Welcome and Farewell dinner

Map

Attractions

Portugal

Activities

Photo Tours

Photo Workshop

Daily itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival

You'll arrive to Ponta Delgada airport in the Azores and be met by your photo guides. From there, you'll head as a group to lunch, wherein your photo guides will go over the itinerary for the days ahead. This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have and to get to know your fellow travellers a little better. After lunch, you'll set off to your first shooting destination, the magnificent Vista do Rei viewpoint. This is one of the most popular locations on São Miguel Island and you'll soon find out why. It offers panoramic views over the Sete Cidades volcanic crater below, as well as the famous Lagoa Verde (green lake) and Lagoa Azul (blue lake). This enchanting scene is breathtaking to behold and only hints at the wealth of possibilities for photography that lie ahead. Nearby is the beautiful Boca do Inferno viewpoint, a fascinating and dramatic area where cliffs stand steadfast against the Atlantic Ocean. You'll spend some time capturing this rocky archway by the seaside, before heading down through Sete Cidades to your sunset location, the Mosteiros black sand beach.

Day 2

Day 2 - São Miguel Island

After breakfast on day two, you'll head out to Lagoa do Fogo, one of the most unforgettable places on all of São Miguel Island. Also known as the Fire Lake, this 2km long natural attraction is the highest crater lake on the island and offers stunning views of the gorgeous scenery all around. The weather here can be changeable, so we'll make sure to arrive early in the morning when conditions tend to be better. Once the sun has risen, we'll make our way to the splendid Salto do Cabrito waterfall, where geothermal activity rises to the surface of the earth. You'll have the opportunity to photograph steaming fumaroles, a hot caldera and even to take a bath in the Caldeira Velha thermal pools surrounded by lush, green nature. We'll then have lunch nearby, before visiting Gorreana, which is Europe's oldest tea plantation. You'll have some time to explore the factory and the fields, before we make our way to several other shooting locations around the island. Our sunset shoot will be at the Vila Franca do Campo, a town in the southern part of the island. Within this nature reserve, you'll find iconic landscapes and a magical view from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz over the countryside.

Day 3

Day 3 - São Miguel Island

On day three, we'll spend our time exploring the volcanic crater valley of Furnas, where thermal pools, hot springs and fumaroles dominate the landscape. You'll have the chance to taste the famous local dish known as Cozido das Furnas, which is unique to this town and is cooked by volcanic steam, as well as the sweet muffins called Bolo Lêvedo. From there, we'll follow a trail to the Lagoa das Furnas, a spectacular crater lake where you will have the chance to photograph mud pools and other steaming geothermal features. Our next stop will be at the Terra Nostra Park, one of the most beautiful gardens in Azores and perhaps in all of Europe. Be sure to bring your swimwear, as you'll have the opportunity to take a dip in a wonderfully warm thermal pool. In the afternoon, we'll make our way to Riberia Quente, a small but picturesque fishing village surrounded by stunning scenery and lush vegetation. We'll make the most of it as the sun sets low on the horizon.

Day 4

Day 4 - Flores Island

On day four, we'll check out of our accommodation and travel to the remote Island of Flores, which is famous for its abundance of beautiful flowers and stunning scenery. We'll spend the day on the western part of the island, beginning at the impressive basalt columns of Rocha dos Bordões. From there, we'll make a short hike to the beautiful waterfalls of Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro. At the base of the waterfalls is an astonishing lagoon that makes for a variety of exciting compositions. Late in the afternoon, we'll head to the Fajã Grande environmental protection area for a sunset session at the Poço do Bacalhau waterfall. It's a great place to practice aerial photography so if you have a drone, then be sure to bring it along!

Day 5

Day 5 - Flores Island

We'll spend the fifth day of our adventure exploring the rest of Flores Island, beginning with a sunrise session at either Lagoa Negra and Comprida or Baía dos Cedros. The former location offers a panoramic view of two crater lakes below, while the latter takes you closer to the sea with wonderful vistas of sea stacks and Corvo Island in the distance. The highlight of the day will be when we take a boat trip around the island to maximise our shooting opportunities. We'll venture out into the northwestern region of the island, where the Lighthouse of Ponta do Albernaz stands steadfast against elements. This evening, we'll head out for a night time shoot at the spectacular rock formations of Rocha dos Frades. If the conditions are favourable, then you'll have the chance to try your hand at a spot of astrophotography, as the sky lights up with billions of glittering stars.

Day 6

Day 6 - Terceira Island

After breakfast on day six, we'll check out of our accommodation for an early flight to Terceira Island, where we'll be based for the next couple of days. This volcanic island in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean brims with culture and is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angra do Heroismo. Upon arrival, there will be some time to relax and to explore the city at your own leisure, before we reconvene as a group and head to the remains of a crater known as Monte Brasil for our first shoot. We'll then have lunch before immersing ourselves in the Black Forest of Terceira Island, capturing the vegetation and making the most of the light trickling through the trees. From there, we'll visit the Algar do Carvão Natural Reserve, where you'll descend into the caldera of a volcano for extraordinary photo opportunities. In the late afternoon, we'll make our way to our sunset location at the Serra da Ribeirinha mountain, where a breathtaking view over the surrounding landscape awaits us.

Day 7

Day 7 - Terceira Island

We'll rise early on day seven to make the most of the morning light as we explore the coastline of Terceira Island, arriving by lunchtime at Praia da Vitória. Thereafter, we'll make our way north to Ponta do Mistério, a place of truly stunning natural beauty. Here, it's easy to see the effects that the powerful ocean waves have had on the surrounding volcanic rocks. From there, we'll make our way to the charming agricultural town of Biscoitos, where natural pools dot the landscape and make for a pretty sight. In the afternoon, we'll chase the sunset light at theSerra do Cume lookout point, which offers stunning panoramic views over the bay and much of the island itself. The terrain is absolutely breathtaking, consisting of a patchwork of volcanic walls dividing the fields below. We'll then make our way back to town and see out the end of our Azores adventure as we enjoy a celebratory meal with a local family.

Day 8

Day 8 - Departure

This will be your final day in Azores. After breakfast, you'll make your way back to the airport, where you'll be able to catch your flight home or onwards to your next destination, no doubt with memory cards brimming to the max with a collection of incredible photos to remember your springtime adventure in Azores!

Registration Information

Registration deposit: $1000 USD

Payment in Full: Required at least 90 days before workshop begins

Disclaimer

Due to the unpredictability of the weather, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to visit all the locations on the itinerary. Changes may be made at the lead guide’s discretion to accommodate best shooting conditions based on the weather forecast for the week.

Since this workshop is focused on landscape photography and ensuring you get the best possible photos for your portfolio, we will aim to shoot most locations in the best light, which is at sunrise and sunset.

Departure Schedule

This tour is currently sold out. New dates will be added soon. Please sign up to our newsletter for up-to-date information.

Guides

Siggi the Viking

English, Icelandic

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Siggi was born in Iceland and has spent most of his photography career in this paradise.During his time as a photographer, he early on found that his passion lies with photographing the beautiful landscapes and nightscapes of Iceland. One of his favorite activities is being out, chasing the northern lights and thinking of new ways to top his shots.

He has won multiple awards for his work, both locally and internationally, especially for his photos of the Aurora Borealis. Sigurdur has also written a book on the subject to aid everyone in getting the perfect shots of Lady Aurora and held nightscape photography workshops in Iceland since the beginning of 2012 with great success.

When the days get longer and the northern lights fade into the daylight, he turns his eyes towards the sun and the amazing midnight sun that Iceland has to offer with the golden hours that seem to stretch on forever.